SAG Awards 2013: Bardem, Arkin talk supporting actor nods

One of the biggest surprises to come out of the Screen Actors Guild nominations Wednesday was Javier Bardem, who scored a supporting actor nod for his work in the James Bond action thriller “Skyfall.”

The Spanish actor, who plays Bond’s nemesis in the blockbuster hit, said he was just as shocked to hear the news as many award pundits.

“I was like, ‘Really? Wow. What an honor.’ You never expect this to happen. It’s a nice surprise,” said the 43-year-old, speaking from London, where he had just received word of the nomination via text message from his publicist.

The five supporting actors to receive SAG Award nominations are veterans of the award circuit: Bardem, Alan Arkin, Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Tommy Lee Jones. Arkin, recognized for his role as a wealthy movie producer in “Argo,” sent out this lighthearted statement: “WOW! I will never complain about my SAG dues again!!”

Among those remaining mum were Hoffman, who plays the charismatic leader of a cult-like group in “The Master”; Jones, spotlighted for his part as a sharp-tongued congressman in “Lincoln”; and De Niro, honored for his role as a football-loving father with obsessive compulsive tendencies in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Bardem, who has his award season screeners sent to him in Spain, said he has yet to receive many of the movies up for SAG Awards.

“I haven’t seen many of the performances I’m up against,” he said, “but I’m sure they are amazing.”